The study presents the status of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) of Ligawasan marsh. Particularly, the study was conducted in Cotabato City, Kabuntalan, Datu Piang, and Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, which are all located in the Province of Maguindanao.
The marsh as a study area is composed of three conglomerate marshes, namely Ligawasan (the largest among the three), Ebpanan, and Libungan marsh. These lay on the center of three provinces such as Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat. Likewise, it serves as the catch basin of the Mindanao River Basin.
The research came up with the process that helped achieve its goal. The process includes surveys, review of secondary data, actual visits of the area, using Google Earth Maps, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.
Surveys found out that the IWT existed early in 1950s. It shows the directional traffic flows of passengers and goods shipment. It provides information about origin-destination of boat users. It elicits the preferred mode of the passengers in the locality. The most common type of boat used in the area is non-motorized and motorized boat of different sizes. Notably, the dominant boat users are farmers and fishermen considering the fact that the area is characterized as a marshland. People living in the interior areas are very dependent to this type of mode.
Origin destination provides travel pattern of boat passengers. It also shows the barangays of each municipality located within or along the periphery of the Ligawasan marsh.
Another important feature is the result of site visits that validated the conditions of boat stations in four (4) study areas. Google Earth verified the approximate length of river channel along the corridor linking the study sites. Maps are also utilized to show the research sites, zoning of municipalities, land covers, and river system as well.